NEW YORK: March 20, 2013The Primate of the Russian Church Abroad Celebrates the First Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts of the year

On March 20, 2013, Clean Wednesday of Great Lent, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, prayed during matins, the hours and the typika at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady "of the Sign" in New York. His Eminence then performed the vigil and then celebrated the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts along with His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, Senior Priest of the Cathedral Protopriest Andrei Sommer, Priest Nicholas Olhovsky, caretaker of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," and other clergymen of the Cathedral and the Synodal Administration.

At the end of divine services, Vladyka Hilarion greeted all in attendance with the first Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts of the year, wishing them spiritual peace and joy.